# Couple saving for a first home

NZ Election 2026 · Edition 8 · Voter situations · S04

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving.

[Back to the study](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8#situations)

| Measure | Value |
| --- | --- |
| questions written for them | 5 |
| answers collected | 20 |
| AI assistants | 4 |
| asked nationally | NZ |

## What this voter asked

### Question 18: Housing

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do the parties' housing plans differ for first-home buyers rather than existing property owners?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/a458211f-8ce0-4081-a20b-5addcf578b35.md)

### Question 19: Housing

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What do parties propose about investors, land use and building more homes, and how might those choices affect first-home prices?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/7248ecb4-bbad-42fc-842b-f31e2a9b9f06.md)

### Question 20: Tax and public spending

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. Which parties propose changes to taxes on property or capital gains, and what could those changes mean for people trying to buy?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/d29a2510-6b5d-450b-aeb9-99e5bfafa121.md)

### Question 21: Cost of living

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. What policies might leave a renting couple with more money to save, and what trade-offs would they involve?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/e292248d-ee42-4f0e-9e71-36934675b2f8.md)

### Question 22: Infrastructure and local services

My partner and I rent, have steady jobs and are trying to save a deposit for our first home. We worry that the target keeps moving. I am considering my vote in the 2026 New Zealand general election. How do parties plan to fund the transport and water infrastructure needed for new housing?

[Read the captured answers](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/0e379896-b30e-4b8e-9ad3-648aeeaa00a8.md)

## Which parties appeared in the answers

The figures count names in the 20 answers recorded for this situation. Naming a party does not mean recommending it.

| Party | Answers | Total |
| --- | --- | --- |
| National | 19 | 20 |
| Labour | 19 | 20 |
| Greens | 19 | 20 |
| ACT | 19 | 20 |
| NZ First | 15 | 20 |
| Te Pāti Māori | 13 | 20 |
| TOP | 11 | 20 |

## Party names across this voter’s topics

Compare the parties named in answers about this voter’s main concerns. The table compares 20 answers from each edition.

The coloured bars show whether statements about a party were positive, neutral, negative or mixed. Select a figure to read the extracts.

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Housing | National | 8 | 8 | 25 | 39 | 2 | 3 |
| Housing | Labour | 8 | 8 | 24 | 51 | 4 | 3 |
| Housing | Greens | 8 | 8 | 15 | 44 | 2 | 3 |
| Housing | ACT | 8 | 8 | 18 | 36 | 4 | 3 |
| Housing | NZ First | 5 | 8 | 4 | 21 | 2 | 2 |
| Housing | Te Pāti Māori | 5 | 8 | 4 | 37 | 0 | 2 |
| Housing | TOP | 4 | 8 | 4 | 33 | 4 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Tax and public spending | National | 4 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | Labour | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | Greens | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | ACT | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Tax and public spending | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | Te Pāti Māori | 4 | 4 | 11 | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Tax and public spending | TOP | 4 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 2 | 1 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Cost of living | National | 3 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Labour | 3 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Greens | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | ACT | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Cost of living | NZ First | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Cost of living | TOP | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |

| Topic | Party | Answers naming the party | Collected answers | Positive claims | Neutral claims | Negative claims | Mixed claims |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Infrastructure and local services | National | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | 0 | 1 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Labour | 4 | 4 | 8 | 16 | 0 | 1 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Greens | 4 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| Infrastructure and local services | ACT | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 0 |
| Infrastructure and local services | NZ First | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 1 |
| Infrastructure and local services | Te Pāti Māori | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Infrastructure and local services | TOP | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## How Gemini’s answer changed

The first-home answer gave NZ First its own section and left out Te Pāti Māori. It kept National’s low-deposit example but stopped describing Labour’s low-deposit and rent-to-buy proposals.

Both answers explained that a smaller deposit does not remove a bank’s affordability checks. The later answer gave more parties separate sections while offering less detail about some routes into a home.

Gemini: “* **First Home Loan Expansion:** Both **National** and **Labour** have proposed lifting the income cap for the Kāinga Ora First Home Loan scheme (which allows a 5% deposit instead of the standard 20%) to **$300,000**.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/7/questions/a458211f-8ce0-4081-a20b-5addcf578b35.md) · Answer ID: 8f09bbf9-1d14-4ae5-8b13-6093a17022ee

Gemini: “* **For First-Home Buyers:** National’s core first-home buyer policy is aimed at lowering the deposit barrier.”

[Read the answer](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/questions/a458211f-8ce0-4081-a20b-5addcf578b35.md) · Answer ID: 29e384af-83eb-4697-a943-e37b26c1b944

## Websites cited in these answers

Compare the websites cited in answers for this voter situation. Choose a topic to see its sources.

### ChatGPT

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| national.org.nz | 4 |
| hud.govt.nz | 3 |
| interest.co.nz | 3 |
| policy.nz | 3 |
| stories.theconversation.com | 3 |
| deloitte.com | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| mcert.govt.nz | 2 |
| nzfirst.nz | 2 |

### Gemini

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| realestate.co.nz | 3 |
| adviser.loanmarket.co.nz | 2 |
| opportunity.org.nz | 2 |
| policy.nz | 2 |
| pwc.co.nz | 2 |
| thefinders.co.nz | 2 |
| buildara.nz | 1 |
| ccsdisabilityaction.org.nz | 1 |
| interest.co.nz | 1 |
| minterellison.co.nz | 1 |

### Google AI Mode

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| policy.nz | 4 |
| adviser.loanmarket.co.nz | 2 |
| kpmg.com | 1 |
| labour.org.nz | 1 |
| nexia.co.nz | 1 |
| wsws.org | 1 |

### AI Overviews

| Website | Answers with this website recorded |
| --- | --- |
| facebook.com | 4 |
| labour.org.nz | 4 |
| policy.nz | 4 |
| adviser.loanmarket.co.nz | 3 |
| mymortgage.co.nz | 3 |
| rnz.co.nz | 3 |
| 1news.co.nz | 2 |
| greens.org.nz | 2 |
| national.org.nz | 2 |
| realestate.co.nz | 2 |

Each website counts once per answer. The comparison covers 20 answers from each edition; 20 of this edition’s answers included citations. Other includes websites we have not yet classified.

[Previous: Renter with variable work hours](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s03)

[Next: Working household under mortgage pressure](https://nzbrands.ai/research/nz-election-2026/editions/8/voters/s05)